Shaving device



July 1, 1941 F.1E. MosKovlcs Erm.. 247,661

SHAVING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2 4, 1938 gsneets-sneet 1 llll H l if AT RNEYS Ju1y1, 1941.

F. E. MosKOvlcs Erm.

' s HAvING DEVICE Filed Aug. 24, 193s -2 sheetssneet 2 INVENTORS`Patented:July v1, 1941 sHAvING DEVICE Frederick E. Moskovics,Greenwich, Conn., and Victor R. Abrams, Maplewood, NI.- J., assgnor, bydirect and mesne assignments, to Eleanor U. Andrews, Greenwich, Conn.

Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,410

' relaims. (ci. 30-43) This invention relates to shaving devices andparticularly toshaving devices of the type known as dry Shavers whichinclude a thin perforated skin-contacting shear plate and motor-drivencooperating shearing blades which coact with the shear plate to severhairs that project through the perforations in the shear plate. v

In our Patent No. 2,119,021, granted May 31, 1938, and our copendingapplication, Serial No. 210,682, filed May 28, 1938 and patented April15, 1941, as Patent No. 2,238,278, we have disclosed a shaving devicevcharacterized by a convex or dome-like skin-contacting shear plateformed of extremely thin metal and provided with a multiplicity ofperforations. The skin-contacting shear plate is adapted to be heldagainst the surface to be shaved and the hairs which project through theperforations in the shear plate are severed by means of comparativelythinblades, which are supported in a member which rotates about an axisnormalY or erpendicular to the center of the shear plate. e blades arecapable vofradial and axial movement relatively to the plate during-thecutting action and thereby cut member and are provided-with edgeportionsv which cooperate with inclined surfaces on the mem-ber in orderto urge the blades against the inner surface of the shear plate 'uponrotation of the member. The comparatively great expanse of the shearplate as compared with the limited area of the blades allows 'the hairsto project readily through the apertures in the shear plate andareeiciently severed by the rapid movement and action of the cutter blades.d

An object of the invention is tosrnplify the shaving devices describedabove and to improve the shearing action of such devices.-

An object of the present invention is to provide a shaving apparatus inwhich motion transmitting drives are-eliminated, thereby eliminatingfriction losses-and simplifying and increasing the efiiciency ofoperation of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shaving apparatus inwhich an improved shearing action is produced by utilizing blades havingi ycuttingedges which act to sever the hairs cleanly in the manner of arazor bladel Vwhch, furthermore. are self-sharpening.

Another object of the invention is to provide shearing devices havingcutting blades which tend to draw the hair through the cooperating shearthe hair more closely to the skin than has been possible heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide shearing devices havingvibrating shear plates which cause the hair to project through the shearplate and to be severed close to the skin.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of. typical forms of devices embodying the invention.

Shaving devices embodying the invention consist of a thin shearing plateshaped as a surface of revolution having a multiplicity of perforationstherein, and a motor driven member which is movable through a path ofconstantly changing angularity about an axis which is approximatelyconcentric with the center of curvature of th'e shear plate and havingone or moreI guideways or slots therein in which are mounted bladeswhich are free to move into shearing relationship with the under surfaceof the arcuate shear plate.

VThe blades consist of a body member which has a laterally projectingflange thereon provided with a sharp cutting edge formed at theintersection of the two surfaces, one of which is formed concentricallywith the shear plate and the otherl is inclined at an angle to the shearplate' to thereby produce a wedge shaped cutting edge.

More particularly, the invention is embodied in a'device which may haveeither a dome-shaped or an arcuate skin-contacting shear plate withwhich the blades cooperate to sever the hairs. The blades may takeseveral4 forms and may either be rigid integral constructions in whichthe shearing edge portion is formed by bending or otherwise forming theyblade into an L or T shaped construction or -by attaching a bladeportion to the body mem-ber by rivets or by pivotal connections wherebythe blade may move relatively to the body of the blade to adjust itselfinto intimate contact with the shear plate.

Because of the wedge-shaped form of the shearing edge in which theinclined surface diver-ges from the shear plate,- upon contact of theshearing edge with a,hair,'it will tend to wedge and draw the hair intothe perforation and, at the same time, sever it cleanly and sharply.Blades of this type, therefore, do not sever-hair only by cooperativeaction of `two or more shearing edgesas is the case in many types of dryshaving devices, but sever it cleanly with a knife action upon impact ofthe blade with :the hair. Likewise, by disposing the cutting edge at anangle to the main body portion of the blade and mounting the blade inthe guide of the supportythe invention are adapted tobe used with greateiliciency in shaving devices of the oscillatory or rotary type for thereason that the shearing edges are maintained ina proper engagement withthe cooperating surfaces of the shear plate; Those blades which havemovably mounted cutting edges are particularly adapted for use Vwith therotary and oscillatory types ofsh'aving devices, for the reascnfthatthey conform to changes in position of the main body of the blade aswell as changes in contourl .of the shear plate, 'thus maintaininguniform shearing contact through'- out their entire area.

Because of the uniform contact and the cony stant tendency of the bladeto movel outwardly during operation of the shaving device, the bladesare substantially self-sharpening, since normal Figure 3 is aperspective view of a blade, great-v wear on the contacting vsurface'renews the keenness of the cutting edge without varying theangularrelationship between the surfaces which intersectto form the cuttingedge.

AShaving devices embodying theA invention may be reduced to thesimplest'form by utilizing a shear plate associated with the fixedarmature of a motor and by providing the rotor of the motor with guidesfor receiving the blades. The shearing plate and the rotor preferablyare concentric and therefore, upon rotation of the rotor, the movablymounted cutting blades are urged outwardly into engagementI with theinner surfaces of the shear plate to obtain the proper shearingengagement therebetween.` This type of construction does not requiremotion transmitting mechanisms in' order to actuate theblade supportingmember. A quiet running and eiiciently operating device therefore, canreadily be manufactured. The shear plate maybe associated in..

any desired way with the fixed armature of the motor. cylindrical tubeof non-magnetic material which -will,l therefore, not affect the-magnetic field of the motor.

Such non-'magnetic'alloys as copper-beryllium' alloys may be used, ii'desired.

Preferablylt is made in the form of a` '45 However, the operation of themotor is not materially alteredeven when a steel shearing plate is used,for the reason that its thinness and perfora-tions reduces its mass soas to alter the magnetic eld only within the Working limits desired.

Any of the devices described above maybe I provided with means forimparting a vibratory or oscillatory or gyratory movement to the shearplate in order to cause the shear plate to work over the.face and byrepeated impact to cause the hair to be'projected through theperforations in the shear plate.

ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end view of a typical form ofshaving device embodying the invention with the The vibratory'movementhas been found kto be'eifective in assuring close sever shear platepartly broken away to disclosedetails of the cutting'mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side view of the device disclosed in Figure 1, shownpartly in -section and partly 1y enlarged, `embodying the invention;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are yperspective views of modified forms of blades; lFigure 7 is a view in vertical section of another form of shavingdevice,embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the shaving device disclosed in Figure'I with one of the cover.. plates removed to show details oftheconstruction and with the motor thereof shown partly in section`; I

lFigure 9 is Figure 12 is a diagrammatic showing of a modi'-V ed form ofshaving device; 1

Figure 13 is a side view cfa part of a modified form of blade-supportingmember@ Figure 14 is a plan view of the blade-supporting member shown inFigure 13;

Figures 15 and 16 are planyiews of counterbalancing devices for a cuttermember; and

1 vFigure 1'7 is a sectional view of a cutter member with the'counterbalancing -devices japplied thereto.

In Figures l and 2 of he drawings is disclosed a shaving device of thetype 'described more particularly in our copending application, SerialNo.

210,682, filed May 28, 1938 This 'shaving device consists of a handle I0in which is mounted van electric motor, not shown, foractuatingasupporting orcutter member II, which is fixed by means of `aset screw I2 to the upper end` of the.

The cutter member II i i isprovided with a riniA Il having a conicalinner surface I5 against which bear the inclined edges shaft I3 of themotor;

I6 of a :plurality of blades I1. The blades AI1 are received in radiallyextending slots I8 in the c utter member II and are capable of axialaswell as radial movement during rotation'f the cutter member I I, wherebyengagement of the edges I6 of the blades I1 with the conical surface I5will cause the cutting edges of the blades t`o move into intimateengagement with the under surface of a shear plate I9. The shear plateI9 is of d ome or convex' shape and is supported at its periphery inv acollar 20 which is detachably conthe blades against the under surface ofthe shear p/late I9 in shearing relationship.

The blades indicated generally as I1 may take many different forms. Inorder to obtain the most efficient and rapid shearing action they areprovided with a laterally extending portion which forms a keen cuttingedge on one or both sides ofthe blade. Referring to Figure 3, a blade IIis shown, which consists of a body portion 24 having an aperture 25ltherein for receiving the spring ring 22 and a widened blade portion 26having oppositely directed longitudinally cutting edges end .view of the,blade shown a perspective view of one form-of blade, Vgreatly enlarged,suitable -for use in the thin metal since the magnetic iield is notaltered 28 and 2 9 with respect to the upper surfaces may vary betweenabout 22 and 68 while an inclination ofy about 30?v has .been found tobe entirely satisfactory. 'Ihis type of blade maybe used with equal-facility with a rotary type of shaving device or an'oscilatory type,for the reason that a surface of substantial width is provided, whichmaintains the cutting edges 21 yor 21 in proper relationship to theshear-plate and they therefore, can cut with equal effectiveness ineither direction of `movement of the supporting member. A double-edgetype of blade is disclosed in Figure 4. 'I'his blade consists ofa bodyportion having an yaperture 3| therein for receiving xa retaining ring.Oppositely directed shearing edges 32l and 33 are formed on the upperportion of the Ibody'membe'r, imparting to it a generally T-shaped crosssection, and these edges are separated by a longitudinally extendinggroove 34 which reduces the area of contact between the4 blade and theshear plate.

The form of blade disclosed in Figure 5 is provided with a singleshearing edge portion 35 which projects laterally from the ybody 36 ofthe blade. The shearing edge portion 35 may -be formed by bendingthefupper edge of the blade and honing the upper surface 3'| to producea keen laterally extending cutting edge 35'. Likewise, the blade may bepreformed and then honed or lapped'to produce 4the cutting edge.

The modified form of the blade disclosed in Figure 6 may also be usedwith equal facility in a rotary type of' razor. This blade consists of astrip of metal 38 which is bent along a longitudinal line 39.to formdiverging'portions 40 and 4I having a reiativeincnnauon of about 120.Thev blade portion 4| is provided with a cutting edge 42 which is formedby lapping or honing the upper edge of the blade. VThe blade portion andthe apex portion formed along the bending line 39 engage opposite sidesof the guide slot i8 and thereby position it for radial and axialmovement relatively tothe guideway.

A modified form of shaving device is disclosed in Figures 7 and 8, whichoperates similarly to the shaving device disclosed in Figures 1 and 2.'I'he shaving device disclosed in Figures 7 and 8 consists primarily ofan electric motor of any desired type, such. as for example, squirrelcage, A. C.-D. C., or make and break contact motor of the typeordinarily used in electric shaving devices. The motor suitably consistsof a fixed eld 50, which is mounted in any desired way in a handlecasing 5| and which has its pole portions 52 and 53 disposed adjacentthe upper portion of the casing 5|. The motor is shown somewhatdiagrammatically, for the reason that the specific type of motor is nota feature 4of this invention,

any suitable type -of motor 'being satisfactory.` Between the opposedpole portions 52 .and 53 of unduly by the presence of this thin metal.The shell 54 may be anchored in position by lugs 56 projecting from thepole portions 52 and 53 into.

apertures 51 in the shell 54. If desired, the shell 54 may be formed ofa plurality of sectors which may be anchored to the ield 50 or thecasing in v any desired way. 'I'he shell 54 may be reinforced andretained'in the casing by arcuate bands 56v which extend over andembrace the end of the shell.l Mounted concentrically in the shell 54 islthe'rotor 59 of the motor which cooperates with 'the xed field 5||.AThe rotor 59 is provided 'withradially vextending slots 60 or guidingdevices V which. receive any type of shearing blades such as 6|. 'I heblades 6| are movable radially of theslots, and therefore are urgedoutwardly into engagement Withjthe inner surface' of the shell 54byrotation of the rotor. As shown particularly in Figure 8, endwisemovement of the Iblades is prevented by means of end plates 62 which arescrewed or otherwise fixed to the'end of the rotor 59. It will beunderstood that the shaft 63 which supports the rotor may lbe journaledin suitable bearings in the end portions of the motor or cas-- ing 5|.'Apertures (not shown) may be provided in the ends of the casing 5| andcommunicating v with the interior of the shell 54 to allow removal ofthesevered hair.

- In operationf the rotor 59 revolves at highv speed, and thecentrifugal force generated by rotation thereof urges the blade 6|directly radially outwardly into contact with the inner surfaces of theshell 54, there-by wiping the blades rapidly across the perforatedportion of the shell and severing hairs which project through theperforations 5 5.

l Blades of the type previously described may be used in this type ofshaving device, the only modification-being the provision ofstraightfshearing edges and a generally rectangular body instead ofcurved edges, and a generally trapezoidal body. In Figure9 is discloseda T-shaped blade which may be used to particular advantage in the typeof shaving device disclosed in Figures 7 and 8i This blade consists of abody portion 65 of flat rectangular shape which has mounted on its upperedge a concavo-convex blade 66 having oppositely directed shearing edges61 and 68. The :blade portion 66 is loosely connected to the bodyportion 65 -by means of pins or rivets 69 which allow a limited rockingmovement of the blade portion 66 with respect to the body 65 thereof.

The T-shaped blade shown in Figures 10 and 11 is similar to the bladedisclosed in Figure 9. This modied form of blade consists of a generallyrectangular nat body portion 10 having upwardly projecting arms 1| whichare provided with inwardly directed pivot portions 12. Oscillatablymounted on the pivot portions 12 is a blade member 13 formed of-thinmetal which is bent to provide a substantially tubular center havingcutting edges thereon. The pivot members 12 are received'in the tubularor socket portion 14 of the blade portion 13, thereby retaining itagainst longitudinal and transverse movement but allowing relativeoscillatory movement plate.` Likewise, these blades are reversible andther'eby'have substantially twice the cutting life of the ordinarysingle edge blades. Also, these blades are self -sharpening, for thereason that as the blade portion wears away, very little any change inthe angular relationship ybetween the surface forming the shearing edgeoccurs. f The form of device disclosed diagrammatically in Fig. 12includes features that are present in the forms of devices disclosed inFigs. 1 2, 'l and 4 tending longitudinally of the casing 8|.

rotor 84 has a central bearing aperture 86 which` 8. 'The' devicedisclosed in Fig. 12 includes a dome-shaped shear` plate80 detachablysupported on the upper end of thel handle casing 8|. Within the casingis a motor consisting of pole or eld pieces 82 and 83 between which isrotatably supported the rotor 84 which has its axis ex- The receives ashaft 81. The shaft 81 is'xed to a non-magnetic cross-piece 88 extendingbetween rand fixed to the pole pieces 82 and 83.-

zThe upper end of the rotor 84 in Fig. 1'2 is pro- Y vided with a cuttermember 89, similar to member disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, and carrying"the blades 90, .which may be'any of the forms described, such as thatillustrated in Fig." 5, for

example.

Upon energzation of the field pieces `82 and 83, the rotor 84rotatesvcausinga shearing action to take `place between the blades 90carried by the cutter member 89 and the shear plate 80.

It has been found by experimentation on the hair of various individualsthat an improved shearing action may be obtained in many-instances byimparting a vibratory or gyratory movement to the shear plate.Apparently the movement of the shear plate' causes the hairs to beworked into` the perforations j of the shear plate and to be extended agreater distance from the skin, thus allowing ythe hair to be severedcloser to the skin.

In Figures 13 and 14 is shown a modified form of the blade-supportingpart A9| of a cutter mem- Aber with the blades omitted, this part 9|being drilled orotherwise formed to be mechanically the configuration ofthe blades without depart- .ing from the invention. Therefore, the abovedescribed embodiments of the invention should be considered asillustrative andnot as limiting the scope of the following claims. f

We claim: 1

1. In a shaving device, the combination of a thin shear plate having acurved surface vformed as at least a part of a surface of revolution andhaving a lmultiplicity of perforations therein, a

Ablade supporting member movable about an axis coincident with the axisof revolution of the shear plate, at least one guide on said memberextending substantially radially to the axis of movement thereof, ablade in and movable radially of the guide into cutting engagement withsaid shear plate in response. to movement of said member, said bladecomprising a body member maintained and movable in substantiallyconstant angular relationship to said member, and a portion extendinglaterallyfrom said body member in the direction of movement of saidblade supporting member and having a sharp cutting edge formed by atleast two intersecting surface portions, one of which engages and issymmetric with the shear plate and the other is inclined at an anglethereto.

2. In a shaving device, the combination of a,

thin perforated shear plate, a blade supporting member movablerelatively to said shear plate and having a slot arranged transverselyto the general direction of movement of the member, a blade bodyrelatively loosely mounted in said slot, and a double-edged blade frelatively loosely mounted on said body with its opposite edges wipingthe under-side of said shear plate during movement of said ,member for,cooperation with the perforations therein to sever hairs pro-Y jectedtherethroughyone of said edges acting as a guide -for the other edge tomaintain the latter in cutting relationfwith the edges of theperforations in the shear plate.

unbalanced, whereby upon rotation the entire Y shearing device willvibrate and cause the as- :ociated shear plate towork over the skin. Asillustrated, an aperture 92, formed as by drilling, is directed radiallyof the part 9|. -However, any other means may be used for unbalancingthe cutter member. 1

A variable effect unbalancing construction is shown in Figs. 15 to 17.This construction consists of a pair of like disks 93 and 94, providedwith cutouts 95 ,and 96, respectively. These disks may be xed beneaththe cutter member 91 :n any desired relative positions. By placing thecutouts 95 and 96 in alignment, the greatest amount of unbalance isobtained, and by varying their relative positions, the unbalanced statemay be decreased-until they are accurately counterbalanced as s hown inFig. 17.

YShaving devices of the type described above utilizing the form ofblades disclosed in Figures 1 to6 andato 11, shave rapidly and with aminimum of razor pull. The reason for this is that la true cuttingaction takes place because of the leenness of the cuttingA edge, andscraping of the hairs` with its'consequent pulling is entirely avoided.Preferably the blades should be made as keen" as practicable by reducingtheangle between the surfaces 4forming the shearing edge.

" It will be understood that there canbe many4 changes made inthe formof the shear plate ,and

3. In a shavingdevice, the combination of a thin, perforated,curvedfshear plate formed as at least a\part of a surface of revolution,a blade support movable about an axis substantially coincident with theaxis of revolution 'of saidy shear plate, said blade support having aslot arranged substantially radially of the said axis and transverselyof the direction of movement of the support, and. a'substantially flatblade loosely iny serted in said slot at one side with its freeside/thin shear plate formed as at least a part of a surface of revolutionhaving-a multiplicity of perforations therein, a blade supporting membermovable about an axis coincident with the axis of revolution of theshear plate, at least one guide on said member extending transversely ofthe direction of movement of said member, a blade -loosely disposed inandmovable radially in the guide into cutting engagement with said shearplate in response to movement of said member,

said blade comprising a body member and a blade portion havingoppositely directed shearing edges mounted at an edg of the body memberfor rocking movementI relatively thereto, said shearing edges beingformed by atleast two intersecting surface portions, one of whichengagesand is symmetric withthe shear plate and the other is inclined at anangle thereto. v

5. In a shaving device, the combination of a thin shear plate formed asat least a part of a surface of revolution having a .multiplicity ofperforations therein, a blade supporting member movable about an axiscoincident with the'axis of revolution of the shear plate, at least oneguide on said member` extending substantially transversely ofthedirection of movement lof said L member, a bladeloosely disposed in andmovable radially in the guide into cutting engagement with ,said shearplate in response to movement of said member, said blade comprising abody member having inwardly projecting pivot portions adjacent itsendsand a' thin curved blade'portion having oppositely directed shearingedgesand sockets in its ends for receiving said pivot portions, saidshearing edges being formed by at least two intersecting surfaceportions, one-of .which engages and is symmetric with the shear plateand the other is inclined at an angle thereto. 6. A blade for -a shavingdevice comprising a thin substantially ilat blade body portion having anelongated upper edge, a cutting edge portion extending-longitudinally ofsaid body 'portion adjacent said elongated edge, said cutting edgeportion having oppositely directed cutting edges pro- Jecting outwardlybeyond the sides of said body portion, and means connecting said bladeportion to the body portion for relative rocking mo ve \ment.

,y VICTOR R. ABRAMS.,

